Only On The Walters Post

You know, reading that Algoma Steel is getting half a billion dollars in government loans really makes me shake my head. Half a billion, mostly paid by taxpayers. Sure, if the steel mill shut down, a lot of jobs would be lost. But are we really saying this is the best use of all that money? I’m not convinced.

Basically, all we’re doing is propping up a company that can’t make it on its own. It’s like me, years ago, running businesses that never turned a profit, and you know what? I never got a bailout. No half-billion-dollar handout. I packed up, moved on, and put my energy into something that actually worked. So why should corporations get special treatment that regular folks like me never saw?

And here’s an idea the government seems to have missed: why not put some of that money directly into the pockets of the people who actually work there? Help the employees hang on while they figure out their next move—retraining, relocating, or finding a job that truly fits. That way, the support goes to the people, not the company, and you don’t end up rewarding a business that can’t keep its head above water. After all, what we really need is more new businesses, not more bailouts for ones that can’t survive on their own.

We also need to be thinking about what we really need in Canada. Health care—real health care. More doctors, not just bodies pushing patients through a revolving door. We need more of the top-notch kind, the ones we used to have here, or the kind you see in Germany or the UK—doctors who have the time to listen, explain, and care. That’s the kind of investment that truly matters to people, not just a company trying to ride out tariffs.

The thing is, we keep pouring money into big corporations under the guise of “protecting jobs,” and maybe that does save some paychecks, at least for a while. But meanwhile, regular Canadians are waiting months to see a doctor or dealing with rushed, impersonal care. My opinion: That’s where half a billion dollars could actually make a difference… a real, life-changing difference.

Until next time: Keep Your Minds Open & Your Stories Alive.
From the Desk Where I’ve Seen It All. GW